How war and heightened inflationary expectations could lead to recession

Writing about inflation and monetary policy when a major war is going on in Europe can appear very cynical, and can be likened to the situation where Nero played the fiddle while Rome was burning.
19 March 2022

Can rising interest rates really tame inflation?

Russia’s military attack on Ukraine has unquestionably thrown the global economy off balance.
5 March 2022

Are we ready for Agriculture 4.0?

The fourth agricultural revolution (4AR), or Agriculture 4.0, refers to the anticipated changes from new technologies, particularly the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to make smarter planning decisions and for better integration of robotics.
19 February 2022

How does Myanmar military keep functioning so boldly?

Myanmar authorities appear to be getting away with their crimes as global attention is focused on the pandemic and, more recently, the Ukraine crisis.
6 February 2022

Why economic forecasting is now trickier than before

Bangladesh has some very difficult—and one could say unpredictable—times ahead in the coming years.
22 January 2022

My reflections and hopes for the new year

I cannot say for sure what 2022 will bring for every person on this planet, but for me it signifies a bend in the road. Last year is gone, and I can only hope that the new one will bring for us all exciting experiences, fewer worries, new opportunities, and more fulfilment.
8 January 2022

New variant, same old travel woes

Covid-19 has taken a big toll on the tourism industry in countries that rely on foreign visitors.  As new waves of infections take hold and ever-changing rules
25 December 2021

Graduation to Middle-Income Status: Bangladesh must address institutional weaknesses

The news that Bangladesh has been placed on a list of countries graduating from least developed status has generated a lot of excitement in the national media, as well as in government circles.
11 December 2021

Carbon Tax is Not Dead

At the just-concluded COP26 meeting in Glasgow, the idea of carbon tax received renewed attention.
27 November 2021

COP26: A meta-perspective

Was COP26, held in Glasgow, a success or a failure? It appears everyone has a different opinion about what the two-week-long summit achieved.
20 November 2021

The kitchen market is on fire, thanks to the recent inflation

I regularly scan the headlines of Bangla newspapers. Recently, I came across several news items with headers that go along the line “Bajare agun, purchhey shadharon manush,” meaning “The market is ablaze and the ordinary consumers are burning.”
13 November 2021

The need to improve our worker’s compensation system

My fellow columnist, Shuprova Tasneem, was recently lamenting the lack of fair wages and workplace safety in Bangladesh.
30 October 2021

What’s new about the 2021 Nobel Laureates in economics?

One of the most eagerly anticipated Nobel Prizes is awarded in the category of Economic Sciences and this year three Americans were honoured.
16 October 2021

How to fix the mess in the power sector?

The power sector in Bangladesh could be considered a success story. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise energy as a key enabler for development (cf. Goal 7).
8 October 2021

Covid vaccination: Third dose versus the first dose

The current debate over the necessity, cost, and effectiveness of the third dose or “booster shots” for Covid is generating a lot of heat.
25 September 2021

The multi-dimensional challenges of resuscitating the Afghan economy

The USA observed the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on September 11, 2021, on the same day the Taliban raised its white flag on the Presidential Palace in Kabul to celebrate their victory.
18 September 2021

Building a better world after the pandemic

Under the current global configuration, the roles played by the two rival superpowers USA and China will be pivotal not only in the geopolitical sphere, but their respective strengths will also determine the trajectory of trade patterns, economic hegemony, and world power alignment.
4 September 2021

The Afghan government and its future

The sudden collapse of the US-backed Ghani regime in Afghanistan and the scenes of the evacuation of American citizens at Kabul Airport brought back some deep-buried memories of mine from another era.
29 August 2021

What can we do if inflation is back?

Why talk about inflation in the midst of the pandemic, one might ask. The answer is simple, if somewhat unpleasant. Inflation may soon be making a comeback!
19 August 2021

The effect of the Delta variant in uncertain times

For Bangladesh, the Delta variant of Covid-19 virus couldn’t have come at a worse time. Starting in January, our infection rate had been going down and was below 300 per day in mid-February.
5 August 2021